Polis, Ros-Lehtinen, Merkley, Kirk, Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to End Workplace Discrimination
Today, bipartisan coalitions in the House and Senate introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In the House, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) have introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) with 153 original co-sponsors. The Senate bill is sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).
“Across our country, LGBT Americans face the daily fear of losing their jobs and livelihood simply because of who they are or who they love,” Polis said. “Dedicated individuals should be judged based on their work, nothing more and nothing less. I am proud to reintroduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) with Representative Ros-Lehtinen and so many of our colleagues in the House of Representatives. We will work together to see the federal workplace |
Polis, Petri Introduce Bill to Simplify and Improve Federal Student Loans
Today, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI), both members of the Education and Workforce Committee, introduced the Earnings Contingent Education Loans (ExCEL) Act of 2013 to simplify and improve student loan repayment for borrowers and save taxpayer dollars. This innovative, bipartisan legislation would improve and expand income-based repayment for borrowers and put in place a long-term fix to the student loan interest rate question.
“Right now, when students take out loans to invest in their education, they are too often running the risk of financial ruin that comes with failing to pay back student loans," said Polis. "The ExCEL Act streamlines our complicated student loan system and provides protections that help young people to pay back their loans and establish good credit. I am proud to support a system that will keep student loan payments affordable and make it easier for young people to succeed.”
Currently, federal student loan |
Polis, Defazio Introduce Bill to Require Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food
Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act; legislation that would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clearly label genetically engineered (GE) foods so that consumers can make informed choices about what they eat. This bill was also introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CO) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
"Despite the prevalence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in grocery stores and prepared foods, it remains difficult if not impossible for consumers to determine if the foods they eat contain GMOs,” Representative Polis said. “This labeling bill is about empowering consumers: consumers can choose to eat or not eat GMOs, or to pay more or less for GMOs. I believe consumers have a right to know what they are eating so they can make their own informed food choices. I am proud to be working toward more informative food labels."
“When American families |
New Congressional analysis upholds states' right to legalize marijuana
Today, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) shared a new legal analysis, prepared by the Congressional Research Service, the nonpartisan research agency supporting the United States Congress, which finds that the federal government cannot compel states to prohibit marijuana use within their borders.
More specifically, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) writes that:
"Although the federal government may use its power of the purse to encourage states to adopt certain criminal laws, the federal government is limited in its ability to directly influence state policy by the Tenth Amendment, which prevents the federal government from directing states to enact specific legislation, or requiring state officials to enforce federal law. As such, the fact that the federal government has criminalized conduct does not mean that the state, in turn, must also criminalize or prosecute that same conduct."
Congressman Polis responded, stating, “I've long believed |
